Movements and mixing of humpback whales around Antarctica

The humpback rises spectacularly out of the water (Photo: Dave and Fiona Harvey)

What is the distribution and extent of mixing of southern hemisphere humpback whale populations around Antarctica?

An improved understanding of the movements and mixing of humpback whales around Antarctica has been identified as a priority for the IWC. This information is integral to assessing the recovery of depleted populations.

A key step in assessing recovery is estimating pre-exploitation size which requires knowledge of stock identity and appropriate allocation of historic catches to correct stocks. An improved understanding of the migratory paths between the breeding and feeding grounds of humpback whales would allow the more appropriate allocation of catches made in this region. In turn, this would improve the accuracy of recovery assessments and estimates of pre-whaling population sizes. Revealing migration routes may also explain some of the variation in the recovery of whale stocks in different areas. The first phase of this project has focused on the links between the endangered Oceania whales, east Australia, New Zealand and Antarctic Area V and VI.

Scientific expeditions such as the Australia-New Zealand Antarctic Whale Expedition 2010, are essential for gathering data and developing research techniques. After the successful AWE 2010 voyage, we realised that we possibly need to head further east to find the feeding grounds of the Oceania whales. So we are now planning voyages to Raoul Island (Kermadec Islands) and American Samoa to satellite tag whales as they undertake their southern migration to currently unknown Antarctic feeding grounds.

Scientific expeditions such as the Australia-New Zealand Antarctic Whale Expedition 2010 (AWE 2010) are essential for gathering data and developing research techniques. After the successful AWE 2010 voyage, we realised that we possibly need to head further east to find the feeding grounds of the Oceania whales. So we are now planning voyages to Raoul Island (Kermadec Islands) and American Samoa to satellite tag whales as they undertake their southern migration to currently unknown Antarctic feeding grounds.